Unequal access to education is a main obstacle to developing political awareness.
Phenomenon such as school segregation and discrimination practiced in schools cause the
inequality in the field of education, concerning Roma. Another factor which leads to weak political
participation of Roma is the lack of information on political matters- programs and ideologies of the
political parties. Surveys indicate high rates for the Roma electors who vote according to the
community's trends, local leaders' political options, material incentives, etc. The issue of lack of identity
papers is an obstacle to Roma political participation also.
Regarding the political representation of Roma, we draw the attention on the fact that the Venice
Commission has stated; in its opinion no 300/2004 on the Law for the election of local public
administration authorities in Romania, that provisions of this Law violate the obligation of the state to
guarantee to persons belonging to national minorities the right of equality before the law and of equal
protection of the law (Art 4 par. 1 Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities).
The Law strongly restricts the possibility of more than one grouping of persons belonging to a' national
minority to be represented in authorities at local level and it also blocks political competition with one
and the same national minorities, in violation of the principle of pluralistic democracy. In spite' of the
Venice Commission .expressed opinion, the law wasn't modified and the debated article remains in
force.
Anti-Roma remarks by Romania's political leaders